ORIGINAL PAPER
Exposure to culturable and total microbiota in cultural heritage conservation laboratories
More details
Hide details
1
Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute, Warszawa, Poland
(Laboratory of Biohazards, Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards)
2
Jan Długosz University, Częstochowa, Poland
(Institute of Fine Arts)
3
Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland
(Institute for the Study, Restoration and Conservation of Cultural Heritage)
4
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, Sosnowiec, Poland
(Department of Biohazards and Immunoallergology)
Corresponding author
Rafał L. Górny
Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute, Laboratory of Biohazards, Department of Chemical, Aerosol
and Biological Hazards, Czerniakowska 16, 00-701 Warszawa, Poland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2016;29(2):255-75
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To date, the scientific source materials usually focus on microbial contamination of the museum or library
collections themselves, while the exposure of persons who professionally deal with this type of objects in cultural heritage
conservation laboratories is ignored. Material and Methods: The study was carried out in 9 naturally ventilated conservation
laboratories with no history of water damage. Viable (understood as culturable) bioaerosol stationary samples were
collected in both outdoor and indoor environments using 6-stage Andersen impactor. Simultaneously, stationary and personal
indoor bioaerosol measurements were carried out using both Gesamtstaubprobenahme an der Person (GSP) and
Button filter samplers. These measurements were complemented by evaluation of microbial content in the dust settled on
conserved works of art. All impactor, filter, and settled dust samples were quantitatively examined to obtain viable and total
concentrations of bacteria and fungi. All isolated microbial strains were taxonomically identified. Results: At workplaces,
the concentrations of viable microorganisms in air were below 2000 cfu/m3 and accounted for not more than 5.5% of total
microbiota. The study showed that quantitative assessment of viable bioaerosol can be made with an Andersen impactor as
well as by using Button and GSP filter samplers, irrespective of whether they are applied for personal or stationary measurements.
Compared to the impactor, however, the use of filter samplers for microbial contamination monitoring substantially
limits the scope of qualitative information which can be obtained. Size distribution analysis revealed that the largest “load”
of microorganisms can penetrate into the respiratory tract between the trachea and terminal bronchi, and thereby may
be responsible for allergic inflammations in exposed workers. Conclusions: The precise assessment of microbial hazards
in conservation laboratories should comprise control of both viable and total particle counts. The hermetization of such
workplaces and control of relative humidity should be implemented and maintained to assure proper hygienic conditions.